turnbull



( No Model.) I Y 2 Sheets- Sheet 1. R. J. TURNBULL. GLOSED UONDUIT FOR BLEUTBIG-RAILWAYS. NO. 531,664.

Patented Jan. 1, 1895.

2 t e e h S m e e h S 2 L L U B N .R .U T J R q d 0 M 0 w CLOSED GONDUIT. FOR ELECTRIC RAILWAYS.

Patented Jan. 1 ,1895,

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ROBERT J.TURNBULL, OF ST. PAUL, MINNESOTA, ASSIGNOR OF .ONE-HALT TO AUGUSTUS-F. PRIEST, OF SAME PLACE.

CLOSED CONDUIT FOR ELECTRIC RA ILWAYS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 531 ,664, dated January 1', 1895.

Application filed January 19, 1894:. Serial No. 497,399. (No model.)

T0 on whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ROBERT J. TURNBULL,

a citizen of the United States, residing at St.

Paul, in the county of Ramsey and State of Minnesota, have invented certainnew and useful Improvements in Conduits for Electric its electrical connection and my improved conduit and transmission mechanism arranged in connection'therewith. Fig. 2is an enlarged cross section, and Fig. 3 is an enlarged sectional side elevation of the conduit and its connections. Fig. 4 is a cross sectional view of the parts shown in Fig. 1.

,A' represents the ties on which the rails A A rest, (the upper edge only of one of the rails being shown in Fig. 1,) and A A are two of theflanged wheels running upon the rails and mounted upon the axles A -A A represents a portion of the truck frame; and

B represents the outline of an electric motor arranged to actuate one of the axles A all these parts being of the usual construction and arranged in the usual manner.

Resting across the ties, preferably between the rails, is a conduit formed of twomain portions D D supporting a T rail D between them, as shown more clearly in Fig. 2, the two parts D D being formed with flanges a a along the lower edge on one side and united by bolts a at suitable intervals, and with a packing of rubber a or other suitable material to render the joint moisture proof. The T rail is held by bolts 6', between the upper portions of the two parts D D as shown,

the rail being insulated from the conduit by strips (1 d of vulcanite or other suitable material. The insulating strips (1' are formed L shaped, the upper leg resting between the head of the T rail and the upper edges of the conduit,'and the'lower leg covering the outer surface of the conduit and held in place by the bolts 1), as shown, by which means. the outer surface of the upper portion of the conduit is entirely covered and protected from any direct contact with the T rail, while at the same time no danger exists of ashort circuit or bridge being formed between the T rail and conduit during rain or sleet storms. Non-conducting sleeves d encircle the bolts b to more thoroughly insulate them from the conduit.

The f T rails D and also the conduits. will be formed in sections preferably about six feet long, and united by bolts Z) and flanges 19 with non-conducting and moisture proof packing 11* between the adjacent ends, as shown more clearly in Fig. 3.

The'adjacent ends of the T rails will be placed a sufficient distance apart and with a suflicieut thickness of insulating material between them to prevent the electric current passingfrom one section to the other. 'The T rail by this means is broken into sections so that a continuous electric current will not flow therethrough, and therefore become conductor rail sections.

The feed wires and other conductorsE' E E will be laid along the interior of the conduit, as shown, covered with the usual insulating wrapping or covering.

At suitable intervals the conductor from which the current is to be transmitted to actuate the motor 13 on the car, (which will preferably be the central one E as shown in Fig. 2,) is tapped by cap screws a, each cap screw being connected by a flexible connection efto a contact block e resting upon or partially enclasping the conductor wire, as shown.

l The cap screw e, flexible connection e and the block a are made of conducting material, so that the electric current from the conductor into which the cap screw is tapped will readily flow therethrough. These contact blocks are designed to be raised into contact with the under sides of the T rails Di when the latterare electrically energized, and as many of the blocks may be arranged beneath 1 each of the sections of the T rails as may be necessary to transmit the required current.

, In the drawings three of the blocks are but a greater or lesser number may be employed as required.

The flexible connection e is shown in the form of a wire or spring, but may be a sec tion of small wire cable or other suitable substance which will not offer too great a resistance to the movement of the contact blocks.

Suspended in anysuitable manner from beneath the truck frame of the car is a trolley frame F carrying trolley wheels F F running upon the T rail D as shown. The trolley frame is shown connected by pivot joint g to the truck frame by a trolley pole F but may be attached in any other suitable manner whereby the trolley wheels will be held in positive contact at all times with the conductor rail sections, and at the same time have sufficient flexibility to avoid being affected by the movement of the car. The trolley wheels will be connected electrically to the motor by wire h in the usual manner as shown, while the latter will be connected by return wire he to the axles of the ear, in the usual manner.

Suspended from the trolley frame F be tween the trolley wheels i F is an electro magnet ll having its poles in close relation to the conductor rail sections, so that when the trolley frame runs along over the conductor rail sections, the magnetic force of the electro magnet will transform each section D of the conductor rail into an armature for the time being, and thus energize it electrically and cause it to attract the contact blocks a and thus close a circuit between the con ductor E with which the contact blocks are connected and the conductor rail section, which is thence transmitted through the trolley wheels and wire to the motor.

The conductor rail sections D will preferably be of brass. As soon as the electro magnet passes from over one of the conductor rail sections, the circuit will be broken and the contact blocks a will drop back again to their normal condition, as shown at e in Fig. 1, and thus likewise break the circuit between the conductor E and the conductor rail section above. Thus that portion of the conductor rail only is electrically energized which is beneath the car and while the car is passing over it, and does not therefore become dangerous or a menace to persons or animals before or after the car passes. The short section which is beneath the car is protected by the car, and will therefore never come in contact with any person, animal or substance which could be injured thereby.

While I have shown the electro magnet arranged between the trolley wheels and suspended from the same frame which supports the trolley wheels, it may be arranged if preferred, on a separate frame.

The electro magnet is shown connected into circuit with the conductorwires 'lzby shunt wires h passing through a resistance coil 11 which is an operative arrangement, but may be wired and connected in any other suitable manner to accomplish the desired results.

\Vith the form of winding shown only a small portion of the current would pass through, but sullicient for the purpose required.

The conduit must be moisture proof, and will therefore be amply protected by water proof paint or other suitable covering, or rendered moisture proof in any other suitable manner.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new is 1. A conduit formed in two parts adapted to be united longitudinally, a conductor rail formed in sections and held between the parts of said conduit and projecting downward into the interior thereof, and extending above its upper surface, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

2. A conduit formed in two parts adapted to be united longitudinally, a conductor rail formed in sections and held between the parts ofsaid conduit and projecting downward into the interior thereof and extending above its upper surface, and moisture proof insulator strips interposed between said conductor rail sections and conduit and overlapping the upper portion of said conduit, whereby means are provided for conducting moisture away from said conductor rail sections and insulating the'conductor rail sections from the conduit, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

ROBERT J. TURNBULL.

\Vitnesses:

C. N. WOODWARD, II. S. Wnesrnn. 

